Scientists studying oldest woman in world, 116, to develop cures for diseases
Scientists are studying the oldest person in the world - a 116-year-old woman - in an attempt to discover the secrets to a long life and to develop cures for ailments.
Maria Branyas, who was born in San Francisco, has few health complications apart from hearing and mobility issues. She has no cardiovascular problems which often plague old people and no memory issues.
She has gathered a number of followers on X (formerly ) where she's recalled beating Covid, surviving the Spanish Civil War and even a deadly earthquake in the US.
Dr Manel Esteller, director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC-CERCA) and a professor of genetics at the University of Barcelona, said: "She’s incredible."
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Celebrating a previous birthday (@MariaBranyas112/Newsflash)The good doctor has taken DNA samples, saliva, urine and blood, from the centenarian after visiting her in Olot, Catalonia, in North-East Spain.
He told Spanish newspaper ABC: "She has a completely lucid head. She remembers with impressive clarity episodes of her when she was only four years old, and she does not present any cardiovascular disease, common in elderly people. The only thing she has are mobility and hearing problems."
Dr Esteller wants to discover how important Ms Branyas' genes are in explaining how she has managed to live for so long.
She cites a number of lifestyle choices including cutting out "toxic people" and avoid "excess."
She has previously credited eating natural yoghurt each day for her long life, adding: "I have always eaten little, but everything, and I have never followed any regime. I have not suffered from any illness or been through an operating room."
She has a 90-year-old daughter (Guinness World Records)Asked about her secrets, she previously said: "Order, tranquillity, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, lots of positivity and away from toxic people."
But she's also admitted believing its also down to genes and "luck" which Dr Esteller agrees with. She is the daughter of a Spanish born journalist but was born herself in San Francisco, California, on March 4 1907. She returned to Spain as a child and has since lived in different areas of Catalunya. She has three children.
Dr Esteller said: "It is clear that there is a genetic component because there are several members of her family who are over 90 years old."
He hopes to figure out her secrets in the lab. He added: "What is clear is that she is a person with an extraordinary capacity for resilience… She is a true survivor."
They will study six billion segments of her DNA, especially the 200 genes believed to be connected directly to ageing. The goal of the research is to develop drugs capable of fighting off diseases typically caused by old age.
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Dr Esteller said: "We hope the study of Maria's cells will give us new clues about how to address neurodegenerative or cardiovascular diseases associated with age, and cancer."
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